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McCarthy, Scalise after leadership election

Boehner congratulates new House leadership

Speaking on behalf of McCarthy were Jeff Miller of Florida, Tom Graves of Georgia and Kay Granger of Texas.

McCarthy enjoyed a stratospheric rise in the House Republican leadership. Elected in 2006, McCarthy has spent most of his career in the leadership. He has vaulted from the rank and file to majority leader. He was whip for more than three years and helped pen the Republican Party platform in 2008.

His victory in the race for the GOP’s No. 2 leadership post — which came in a secret vote Thursday afternoon — had been nearly assured for a week.

After Cantor’s primary defeat on June 10, McCarthy moved swiftly to secure the support of Republican lawmakers with an aggressive whip effort. Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas considered making a run for the position but dropped out, citing a desire for party unity.

Labrador never really had a chance. He jumped into the race less than a week before the contest took place and couldn’t come close to breaking McCarthy’s stranglehold on the House Republican Conference.

McCarthy is well-known for his aggressive fundraising, good personal relationships with fellow members and encyclopedic knowledge of congressional districts. He got the early support of powerful committee chairmen like Reps. Dave Camp and Fred Upton of Michigan.

McCarthy has had a rocky tenure as whip and has faced harsh criticism for his periodic inability — or unwillingness — to turn votes.